But 90 percent of kidney stones pass on their own in a few days or weeks. Since intervention techniques increase the risk of infections and kidney damage, simply letting them do so is likely the best approach.

- Kidney stones are a common urinary tract disorder and leading cause for costly emergency room visits.- At least 10% of Americans will develop kidney stones. http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/kk/kidneystones.php- The National Kidney Foundation warns that 1 in 3 Americans are immediately at risk of developing kidney disease.- The two leading causes of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure.- Every year, more Americans die of kidney disease than breast and prostate cancer combined.- Once a kidney ceases to function, the only options are dialysis or a transplant.- Nearly 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for a kidney transplant.- Over 3,000 people died last year waiting for a kidney transplant.- The Kidney Fund reported that Medicare costs for treating kidney failure were a whopping $29 billion in 2009!